Jeju Air CEO banned from leaving South Korea

"The investigation team has imposed an exit ban on two people, including Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae," police in South Jeolla Province, where the plane crash occurred, said on January 2.

Jeju Air announced on the same day that it plans to cut domestic flights as early as next week and international routes from the third week of this month, amid growing concerns about flight safety.

South Korea's leading low-cost carrier earlier announced plans to reduce flight operations by 10-15% by March to improve operational quality.

Asked about criticism over possible errors in aircraft maintenance, Song Kyung-hoon, head of Jeju Air's management support office, said that the company previously had "a large number of highly skilled maintenance technicians." The company also provided opportunities for them to continue working after retirement.

"However, the Covid-19 pandemic made it impossible to maintain those contracts. Therefore, there was a period when we did not meet the standard recommended by the Ministry of Transport of 12 technicians per aircraft," Song said.

A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 carrying 181 people crashed on December 29, 2024, while landing at Muan Airport in southwestern South Korea. The plane hit a bird and apparently had problems with its landing gear, forcing the pilot to make a belly landing.

The Boeing 737-800 skidded on the runway, seemingly unable to slow down, and crashed into a concrete wall at the end of the runway, bursting into flames.

The accident killed 179 people and left only two flight attendants alive, making it the deadliest aviation tragedy on South Korean soil.

South Korean police searched Muan airport and the Jeju Air office today as part of their investigation into the crash. Officials said the search warrants were issued based on allegations of professional negligence resulting in a fatal accident.

After the incident, all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by Korean airlines had to undergo special inspections, focusing on the landing gear.